SACRAMENTO LAWMAKERS believe it’s time for California to be heard, that a message should be sent to the nation’s capital insisting on an immediate withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq. Talk about Johnny-come-lately legislation.

The bill in question originated with state Sen. Pro tem Don Perata, D-Oakland, sponsored by good buddy Fabian Nunez, D-Los Angeles, the Assembly speaker, and paraded through the Assembly.

What it entails is asking voters on the Feb. 5 ballot if California should tell President Bush and his administration to put an end to the ongoing conflict in Iraq. All that stands in the way is a little tinkering from the state Senate, and a nervous signature from Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who sees a political hot potato coming his way.

We understand that there’s frustration concerning the war, and how we’re pouring more troops and money into it while spilling more blood, with no end in sight.

We agree that the direction set by the Bush administration has been chaotic at best. But do we seriously think Sacramento lawmakers and state voters are going to change the minds of Bush, Cheney and the Department of Defense?

Bush knows full well how the American public feels about the Iraq war, and he certainly knows how California feels. We all do.

There isn’t a poll between Alaska and Florida that would support our direction in Iraq, particularly considering how al-Qaida has rebuilt itself within the borders of Pakistan. We’ve heard poll after poll opposing our involvement in Iraq — so what’s new coming out of California?

Besides, we already have voices in Washington. Have our state lawmakers ever heard of Nancy Pelosi? She represents San Francisco and is speaker of the House. Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer are two major players in the Senate, and we have plenty of congressional members who have sounded off against this travesty. How is a ballot measure from California going to make a difference?

Perhaps this is an easy avenue for California lawmakers to get on the good side of voters. But even if it gets 100 percent of the vote, how will that affect the outcome of the war? It won’t.

All this does is waste taxpayer money in the form of lawmakers’ salaries and the expense of another useless ballot measure.

If lawmakers really want to make an impact, we suggest that they do so where they have the greatest influence — within the borders of California.

If lawmakers really want Schwarzenegger to shake, send a bill his way to change term limits and alter legislative districts.

How about changing the way we approve the state budget?

Telling the Bush administration to get out of Iraq is a waste of time and energy. The governor should veto this bill if it makes it to his desk.

Violent police encounters in California last year led to the deaths of 157 people and six officers, the state attorney general’s office said Thursday in a report that provides the first statewide tally on police use-of-force incidents.

At 6:03 p.m. Wednesday, police responded to reports of the robbery at the facility, 2301 Bancroft way, and learned that a man who snuck into the facility and began prowling through the building, taking cell phones and wallets from victims.

Investigators’ efforts to solve the case led to the arrests of Pablo Mendoza, 25, of Hayward, Brandon Follings, 26, of Oakland and Valeria Boden, 26, of Alameda, the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office said Thursday.